Chuck Most

That's neat! I need to get more into these caricature models.

Started on another Courier, the most recent reissue of the AMT kit with 2 wheel drive and aftermarket stepside bed. AMT/Ertl called it a '77 on the instruction sheet, but the truck is actually a '78 (slightly different grille and the parking/turn signal lamps are in the grille, not the bumper like on the '77). The front suspension was modified, and the truck will run the five-spoke wheels from the Revell '50 Ford F-1 2-in-1 reissue. These wheels had the tire locator rib filed off to accommodate the Toyo Proxes tires from a Revell Ford Focus SVT. So far, that's it. The kit I'm using had the engine missing, so I'm kicking around the idea of putting a 5.0 V8/five-speed combo from a Mustang in the truck. Guess we'll have to see!

And remember, if you don't like the weather where you live.... move.

Those tires came in a bunch of AMT and MPC kits, I know they come in the most recent '73 Cougar street machine and '88 Dodge Daytona kits off the top of my head.

Some retailers keep it in weird places, - the local Meijer doesn't have it in with the dedicated home care products section- it is in the grocery section for whatever reason.

My take on it... If I clear the paint, decals get cleared... IF they are meant to represent graphics which are or would have been painted on the 1:1. If they are meant to be the adhesive-backed sponsor stickers, they go on after that, without clear. I never try to get my race cars too shiny, because practically no 1:1 race car ever is. Sometimes I'll bend or break my own rule, but that's the gist.

Beautiful and with a backstory. Nice!

Just a quick little weekend project I threw together to get something accomplished. No more, no less.

This quick little weekend project is DONE! Uploading pics of the finished van now.

Would you go to Ikea and buy a kitchen set with no intention of ever putting it together? Of course not. I feel the same way about model kits. As far as rarity or value? All of those kits have been reissued in some form or another over the years, so unless you find that one guy who would pay top dollar for that specific version of the kit because he built it as a kid or whatever, it's not like you're going to make anything substantial from selling them. My vote? Build 'em. But I'm guessing you already knew I'd suggest that, right?

The 'paint' is more or less done, and I decided to try a subtle 'stickerbomb' motif for the rear windows.

Avoid the most recent reissues ("Double Whammy" and later)- they have the old Halibrand wheels instead. Still cool wheels, but not this type.

Can a non-Dodge really be a Dajiban? Don't know! Or care! If you're out of the loop, this should explain things for you- http://jalopnik.com/5481898/crazy-japanese-build-serial-killer-vans-for-the-race-track-dajiban Anyway...where were we? This is the AMT Vantom or Phantom or whatever it's called for this reissue. The first thing I had to do was dig up an appropriate set of wheels and tires for this thing. I noticed that many of the 1:1 Dajibans have RWL BFG T/A tires with Minilite-style wheels. After a bit of digging I located a set of each. The van was also lowered, and I chose to incorporate a bit of negative camber, which is easy with a Ford Twin I Beam front suspension when you lower it with shorter (or cut) coil springs! I'm going for an overall 'tattered' look, so I used the worst paint I had in the stash- a very old can of Rustoleum Heirloom White with a bad nozzle. Some light weathering will follow. I'm throwing in a few random elements from other genres, too- the passenger's side headlight is covered with a smiley face- I've seen many Bosozoku-styled cars with that lamp covered or removed, so I decided to do it to this. It will also have an oil cooler on or under the front bumper.

Bandai did a 1:12 scale Excalibur SSK, just so you know. Love the way this one is coming together!

Nice! Of course I'm biased since I own a 1:1 '67 Fury more-door. Technically, yes, but you see them mounted that way pretty frequently.

Here's one that's a bit less sad- http://damnjdm.webs.com/apps/blog/show/6173019-abandoned-r30-skyline

Check the Studebaker thread in the Community Builds section.

It has finally stopped raining, at least. Still got a little iffy- these trucks are parked about 150 feet away from the river bank, and the water level was actually a bit higher a day or two before I took this photo...

Tonight's agenda- '53 Studebaker Roadster...

They're a REAL hoot on wet grass, too. Years ago a friend of mine asked what 'doing a donut' meant, and I was more than happy to demonstrate on the rain soaked grass. If the yard had been a bit larger I'd have shown her an example of a powerslide as well. That was a GT hatch, but still.

That's how I've always done it- that way if something goes bad (kit turns out not to be the one the other party wanted, or it gets damaged/lost in the mail, etc.), I can at least return the kit to them, in exactly the same condition it was when it arrived.

Here we go... First order of business was to cut away the top. Since this will be a two-seat roadster, there was a good foot and a half of space between the rear edge of the door and front of the rear wheel opening that I wouldn't need- so an approximate 18 scale inches was whacked out of that area. I used part of the AMT '53 Stude's chopped top option on the chopped windshield, and used the rest of it as a deck filler- this will be trimmed and shape as needed once seats, etc.. are decided upon. Here's everything roughed in- note that this will be a curbside model, with no full engine detail- the hood was glued into place and sanding/putty will be used to take care of the large gaps along the fenders.

Again, Dave.... put me down for at least 12 D-series pickups and another dozen Travelalls. Well, maybe not all at once...

Nice! First Road Boss I've seen paired up with the Peerless log trailer.

Gee, thanks. Just what I needed... ANOTHER project idea.